Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz
Penélope Cruz Sánchez, known professionally as Penélope Cruz, is a Spanish actress and model. Signed by an agent at age 15, she made her acting debut at 16 on television and her feature film debut the following year in Jamón, jamónto critical acclaim. Her subsequent roles in the 1990s and 2000s included Open Your Eyes, The Hi-Lo Country, The Girl of Your Dreamsand Woman on Top. Cruz achieved recognition for her lead roles in the 2001 films Vanilla Sky, All the...
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionMovie Actress
Date of Birth28 April 1974
CityAlcobendas, Spain
CountrySpain
There is a magic factor that is sometimes on a movie set, that is a really, really beautiful thing that cannot be compared to anything else, if you are somebody that is really passionate about acting or directing or the world of movies.
I've worked myself to exhaustion before. I was so young, and I thought I could do everything; it was just too much for my body and my mind.
I spend so much time living by myself - mostly in hotels - and I pick up cats when I'm feeling particularly lonely.
It is a revolutionary experience. That's the best way I can describe it. It transforms you completely, in a second. Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment-when you see that face, you are transformed forever.
Sometimes, when things go well on a set, or when you are working with somebody like Pedro Almodovar, Woody Allen, Rob Marshall or somebody so talented and so inspiring, it's really beautiful, what happens there.
I have had a very singular kind of life since I started working so young, so I am very used to traveling, working, taking time for myself.
We need to stop the dying and start the living; stop the hunger and start the hoping.
I've seen my grandmothers grow old and they are so beautiful, every wrinkle in their face tells a story. I want to feel that in 30 years. I would always choose that kind of beauty over that comes from having too much done to yourself.
Especially when you are advertising a product, I talk to the photographer and we create a character - it always gives you more freedom because it makes it less about yourself.
For 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' for example, Woody Allen is one of the greatest American directors, and we really had a very good working relationship. We understand each other really well. He gave me one of the best opportunities somebody has ever given me in my career.
I was 11 when I first said I wanted to become an actress, and everyone looked at me as if I had said I wanted to go to the moon.
When you really have the preparation time and things start taking the shape that they need, you have a beautiful feeling that comes from the hard work.
When I start a movie, the first day, I feel like a duck.
Nothing is going to happen to you if you throw salt on the floor, stand under a ladder, or see eight black cats on the street.